Ft. Mims
Fort Mims was made up of 17 buildings and housed around 550 people. Many of the inhabitants were friendly American Indians and “half-breeds.” On August 30, 1813, the Red Stick Indians in retaliation of the Battle of Burnt Corn, attacked Fort Mims. William Weatherford, 'Red Eagle,' was convinced to plan the attack, even though he disagreed with some of its motives. The attackers killed everyone they could, but some Red Sticks including 'Red Eagle,' tried to stop the murders, one even shot three Red Sticks who were scalping women and children. The Red Sticks spared only the slaves.
Having trouble viewing the video below, click here to download or update Adobe Flash Player
Why did the Red Sticks attack Ft. Mims?
"Indians, negroes, white men, women, and children lay in one promiscuous ruin. All were scalped , and the females of every age, were butchered in a manner which neither decency nor language will permit me to describe. The main building was burned to ashes, which were filled with bones. The plains and the woods around were covered with dead bodies. All the houses were consumed by fire, except the block house and part of the pickets. The soldiers and officers, with one voice, called on Divine Providence to revenge the death of our murdered friends." |
|
Statistics
~275 to 300 whites, friendly Indians, and mixed bloods settled at Ft Mims before massacre*
~250 to 275 of the settlers were killed in the battle
~20 to 40 settlers escaped
*some sources indicate that around 550 settlers were housed in the fort at the time of the massacre
~250 to 275 of the settlers were killed in the battle
~20 to 40 settlers escaped
*some sources indicate that around 550 settlers were housed in the fort at the time of the massacre